Who Fakes Cancer?
– via Fox News –
GOSHEN, N.Y. – Authorities say a former New York woman pretended to have terminal cancer so she could have a lavish wedding reception and honeymoon.
The Times Herald-Record reports an Orange County Grand jury has indicted 25-year-old Jessica Vega, a former Montgomery resident, with grand larceny and scheme to defraud.
According to the indictment, Vega accepted thousands of dollars in donated services and goods after claiming in 2010 that she was dying of leukemia. The newspaper ran a story on Vega’s wedding wish to be married to the father of her young daughter before she died.
The community reportedly came together, contributed thousands and donated services to provide her with the dream wedding. She married Michael O’Connell in May 2010 and the couple spent their honeymoon in Aruba.
Four months later, O’Connell told the newspaper that Vega was faking the illness.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman told the paper that Vega “took advantage of the community’s hearts and minds.”
“Our office will hold this individual accountable for fleecing the public through lies and deception,” he reportedly said.
The couple divorced over the incident, and O’Connell moved to Virginia. Vega later joined him. They have two children.
“She’s a good mom, and that’s all that counts at the end of the day,” O’Connell said, according to the report. “I want my kids to have their mother back.”
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